Page 49 of A Queen's Game
Shit, Brynden. He was coming to see her, and Elyse looked like—well, she looked like she was up all night, which she was.
Elyse groaned, her head heavy with exhaustion. After finishing The History of Lyken Fulbryk, she jumped into his book on the first principle of magic. Though the reading was dry, his words enthralled Elyse.
Controlling aithyr depends on a mage’s ability to focus; their mental strength is what gains control, forming the aithyr into what they wish it to be.
Magic could shape aithyr into endless things if only she could calm her mind.
Her father snapped his fingers. “Elyse, are you listening to me? Brynden will be here any moment to see you. Get up. You look like a disgrace,” he spat, throwing back her covers. “You’re lucky someone like him even has an interest in you.”
She bolted upright, staring at her father’s incredulous face. How did she not wake up on time?
Elyse shook off her exhaustion, darting to the bathroom to bathe and try to make herself presentable. The brush pulled through her tangled hair as she brought it into a knot on top of her head. She cursed herself for insisting she didn’t need a handmaid. The small talk with them always put Elyse on edge.
Brynden’s voice sounded through the door. Gods—he already arrived? Elyse ran to her closet, tripping on her feet as she hurried. As she fell forward, her face landed on the corner of the wardrobe with a resounding thunk, her forehead throbbing.
“You alright in there?” Brynden called.
Humiliation knotted her stomach. “Yes, I’m fine!” she called back, swearing under her breath. Never was she clumsy unless it was inconvenient.
Her forehead ached, a bump already rising from the impact. Great, one more thing for her to worry about. She just needed to find something to wear. What was the weather even like?
She pulled out three dresses, holding each up against her. No, none of them would work. Gods, why was she like this? Her heart thundered in her chest, knowing Brynden was waiting for her.
She needed to just pick one—the choice didn’t even matter. Elyse selected a blood-red dress of flowy fabric that hugged through the hips and a neckline that plunged low into the chest, reaching her mid stomach. The skirt had a high slit; the gap filled with lace that ran to her hip. Sleeveless was likely a proper choice since the days grew hotter, and the lace—well, hopefully, Brynden liked it. Perhaps it would make up for her barely-made face and wispy strands of hair already pulling free from her knot. Gods, she looked like a mess, but she needed to go.
Elyse stepped out of her room to find Brynden standing near her father’s office. Unlike the night of the ball, his black hair was down and pushed forward towards his face with straight black locks pushed up out of the way, the shaved sides exposed. A silkcollared shirt fit tight over his body, the neckline revealing the bulk of his chest. For a moment, she was silent, still surprised a male like Brynden was interested in her.
“Apologies,” she said, bowing her head.
“Never a problem, Elyse,” Bryden replied, her eyes rising to meet his. A smile lined his face as he added, “You look beautiful, so it was worth the wait.”
The face her father gave over Brynden’s shoulder suggested otherwise. She would hear about it later.
“Here,” Brynden said, stepping towards her with a box in hand. “I brought you something.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said with a smile, taking the gift. Her fingers lifted the lid, revealing a necklace with clear stones speckled with black. “Oh, Brynden, this is stunning.”
“Diamonds native to Chorys Dasi. Mined from the mountains near my city-state,” he said.
Her fingers touched the necklace, a thin chain of gold connecting a dozen stones. Glancing down at her chest, she realized she had forgotten jewelry. “Do you mind putting it on me?” Elyse turned her back to him while pulling her hair forward, holding out the necklace to Brynden.
“Honestly, Elyse,” her father snapped. She thought it would be a kind gesture to want to wear it right then, but her father thought differently. Gods, he was going to lose it when she returned.
“Nothing would make me happier,” Brynden said, taking the necklace.
Breath held in her chest as Brynden’s arms reached around her, placing the necklace around her neck, enveloping her in his scent. Hot breath fell over her ear as he whispered, “Happy to see you’re not drunk today.”
The realization seized her heart. If she had woken up on time, she would have had something in her system to cope. How wasshe going to speak with Brynden? What would she even say? Brynden expected her to act as she did at the ball, but alcohol emboldened much of that.
Elyse turned to him, eyes wide as he stepped back. A smirk hooked across his lips as he took her in. He was amused? For what reason? She knew she looked terrible, and perhaps she wore the wrong dress.
Whore.The word crept into her mind with the sound of her father’s voice, dread spilling from her. Brynden offered his arm, leading her out of the suite.
Elyse could feel the burn of Brynden’s stare like a hot iron pressing on her. Her tongue turned to lead in her mouth, unable to move even if she knew what to say. Instead, she just kept a hand wrapped around his bicep, taking glances at how the white shirt was tight against his body, able to see shifting muscles beneath.
“Everything okay?” Brynden asked, turning to her as they descended the stairs to the first floor of the Noble’s Section. “You’re awfully quiet today.”
Of course, she was quiet—what could she say to him? Elyse forced a smile, nodding while fixing her gaze on the wooden stairs. The cavernous foyer echoed with ambient voices. The bottom floor of the Noble's Section housed plush community rooms with seating, tables, game boards, and other items in which nobles and courtesans could entertain. Those rooms were the source of voices, with elves wandering between them.
